Letters to the Editor - Sept. 27, 2012

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This past week, I went to see the movie, "2016: Obama's America." I personally recommend this as a must-see to everyone who believes in America. Even if you are not planning to vote in the coming election. If you are eligible to vote, I believe it will help you decide how you will vote.

Regardless of your age group or your political affiliation, and especially if you believe in America and how you will live your life, this movie will make you think. It does not matter what party you believe in.

I know it has changed some of my thinking. I have just been going along with the flow and just accepting most things. But I have also been criticizing some other things. At 88 years old, I am a little slow in making up my mind. If you need a little help, then I recommend you see this movie. It is a little over an hour, it is entertaining and gives you something to think about.

Do you remember how our parents insisted that we go to school, to become better educated? See the show, enjoy it. To me, it is a must-see movie. It is still playing at the local theaters.

John B. Scalzo

Rifle

I've had the pleasure of working at the Colorado State Veterans Home in Rifle for more than six years now. We help veterans receive care, whether it is for short-term rehabilitation therapies, respite care (for the care-giver), long-term nursing, dementia/Alzheimer's care or even hospice care. We also accept spouses of veterans, but only if our veteran percentage will allow us to accept a spouse for the same types of care.

One of my biggest roadblocks in helping family members of our veterans or the veterans and spouses themselves is locating their military discharge paperwork showing their proof of service in the military.

The DD-214 form military discharge paper shows the service member's entry date, whether they were honorably discharged as well as their discharge date. Sometimes, the DD-214 will confirm where the veteran served, in what states or foreign countries.

I cannot stress the importance of having the DD-214 form in your files at home. The DD-214 could help a veteran receive well-deserved benefits through the Veterans Administration, help family members with burial benefits, even in obtaining an American flag at their local post office after the veteran passes away.

If records are available through the federal VA system, you can obtain a copy of a DD-214 by going online at vetrecs.archives.gov. The website will step you through the process of filling out all the pertinent information. It usually takes 7-14 days to receive the copy of the DD-214.

Try to make it a priority in finding this form in your files or obtaining a copy so you can have it readily available.